Manchester United vs Sevilla
A place in the 2020 Europa League Final awaits either one of English or Spain’s finest.
While their respective classes of 2020 will hardly rank amongst the club’s best ever sides, the chance to secure some silverware and make it a successful season has a real allure.
Both sides recently concluded similar domestic campaigns with Manchester United pipping Chelsea for third place in the Premier League, albeit a long way behind the top two, while Seville did virtually the same in La Liga, just behind third-placed Atletico Madrid on goal difference.
Although that means both sides have places secured in next season’s Champions League, that is unlikely to alter the hunger of either to win a trophy – something that is often forgotten about amidst the media-driven clamour to reach the ‘cash cow’ of Europe’s top competition season after season.
Talking Points
As Europa League highlights go, Sevilla will be on a high after their late win against Wolves in the quarter-final.
Ever Banega is arguably their key man.
They had 75 per cent of the ball against Wolves and have averaged 66.3 per cent possession in the competition this season – the highest of any club. Banega is also integral to how they play. In midweek, he completed more than twice as many passes (103) as Wolves’ three midfielders combined (40).
Before displaying patience and resolve to then beat Wolves, they had also been impressive in seeing off in-form Roma.
Certainly, former United striker Dimitar Berbatov has this week warned his old club to be wary of a team which has won the competition five times since 2007.
The Andalusian club has scored 124 goals in this tournament in history, a competition record they share with fellow Spaniards Villarreal and Salzburg. They have also registered a record-breaking 40 wins, one more than Salzburg.
This week the club received a boost when it welcomed back Nemanja Gudelj into the fold. He flew to Dusseldorf to join up with the squad following a fortnight in isolation after he tested positive for coronavirus, although it’s unlikely he will start on Sunday.
Boss JulenLopetegui, aiming to restore his reputation after difficult times as the Spanish national team manager and Real Madrid boss, says United are ‘the biggest team in the world’ but is confident Sevilla will come out on top.
For United, under added pressure at the end of the marathon season, this is the first real Europa test after knockout victories against the minnows of Lask and FC Copenhagen.
They have not impressed of late as a long and arduous season draws to a close and will not want to end the campaign with a third semi-final defeat.
Fatigue could become a factor, yet they always have a chance if they keep clean sheets, something the Red Devils have achieved eight times sheets in their past 11 matches.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team also have the players to turn on the style when it matters further up the park and this contest could well be decided by defensive mistakes or a moment of magic and in Anthony Martial, United have a frontman showing world-class attributes.
Solskjaer could hand Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof starts after both appeared off the bench against Copenhagen on Monday.
Sevilla also have an abundance of talented attacking options and, as well as being unbeaten in 19 games in all competitions since February, they have kept seven clean sheets in their last 10 games.
It’s too tight to call.
History
The history is a brief one and goes back just two years – to the last 16 of the Champions League.
On that occasion, United gained a creditable goalless draw in Spain only to be beaten 2-1 at home and knocked out at the last 16 stage.
On the night Wissam Ben Yedder netted twice for Sevilla before Romelu Lukaku pulled one back for United.
Betting Tip
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Manchester United vs Sevilla | Over 2.50 @ 2.42 |
| August 17, 03:00 (GMT+8) |
Sevilla’s experience in this competition gives them an extra edge; they know how to get the job done and this Sbobet writer makes them slight favourites.
Europa League betting odds slightly disagree, however, and give United the edge.
They are priced 1X2 @ 2.42 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.16. You can back Sevilla 1X2 @ 2.94 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.53.
The draw, after 90 minutes, is on offer 1X2 @ 3.05.
A repeat of their 2-1 success two years ago is available to back @ 10.50 on correct score odds.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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